Titans' three-headed QB

North Oconee Football

But for Tuley's North Oconee squad, there isn't just one signal caller who can do both the way he wants.

"If we could open up a Sears catalog and pick a quarterback, we would want someone to be the field general," Tuley said. "We want someone that can throw and someone that can run the option."

Tuley said North Oconee isn't able to run the option like Tuley wants. So he decided on this: A "quarterback by committee."

First there's junior Kevin Lowring: Lowring has the starter for most of the season, but sprained the medial collateral ligament in North Oconee's eighth game of the season against Jefferson. The knee injury has limited Lowring's play and has bothered him at times in the last two games.

"It's been hurting, especially last week because that was the first week I got hit on it," Lowring said. "I was spun around a couple of times. It started bothering me, but I just put it in the back of my head and kept playing."

Then there's sophomore Blake Gaubert: He's similar to Lowring except Gaubert is the better passer and Lowring is the better runner.

"We felt like in terms of throwing the ball, Blake's got a little bit more fire behind his passes," Tuley said. "And in terms of the passing game, timing is everything."

When Lowring was hobbled against Jefferson, Tuley gave Gaubert most of the passing plays.

"That was a combination of seeing if he could do it and not wanting Kevin to take a blindside shot," Tuley said.

In North Oconee's 17-7 loss to Fannin County last week, the Titans played both Lowring and Gaubert. With both seeing playing time, Tuley said not much changed in regards to formations and playcalling.

"When Kevin's in the game, it won't be nothing but runs - we're going to throw the ball," Tuley said. "And when Blake's in the game, we're going to run the ball."

Lowring said he has tried to help Gaubert adjust to the additional playing time.

"I've been trying to help him by telling him stuff he didn't know because (junior varsity) doesn't run everything varsity does," Lowring said. "When he would come off the field I'd tell him, 'Good job' - especially if something bad happened. I try to keep his head up."

Gaubert said there's no quarterback controversy, just that he comes in to spell Lowring because of the knee injury. Gaubert has also done his part to encourage Lowring while he deals with the pain.

The third quarterback in North Oconee's committe is the wild card, or better yet, the Wildcat: Junior Lane Thompson starts at wide receiver and free safety, but lines up in the shotgun to take some direct snaps.

Earlier this season Thompson lined up to run draws and keepers in third-and-long situations. Now, he has his own set with Tuley giving him multiple series per game.

"Everyone has a trick name for it, but we've just been calling it, 'Hey Lane, go play quarterback,' " Tuley said.

Thompson's aware of the success the Wildcat formation has had in the college and pro ranks. He said he relishes the opportunity to be used in that facet of the game.

"It's really fun to watch in college to see the defense not know what's going on," Thompson said. "Even in high school, when we get in here they always say, 'Wildcat, Wildcat, Wildcat' or '8, 8, 8 (Thompson's jersey number).' It makes the defense focus on something else during the week in practice."

With Thompson entering the game and taking a series or two away from either Lowring or Gaubert, a potential concern is that it disrupts the rhythm Lowring or Gaubert are trying to create.

Thompson doesn't think so.

"We don't really pass that much, so I don't think it throws anyone off their rhythm as long as everybody knows what they're supposed to do," Thompson said. "Mostly it's just getting the ball to a certain place. And the quarterback isn't asked to do too much."

All three players bring something to the table that Tuley can work with as the Titans prepare for their first-round matchup with Lamar County in Barnesville on Friday.

But after this season is finished, Tuley is hoping one player can become the go-to field general who can add the option element to the offense in 2010.

"We're starved to run the option this year because in high school football that's a very tough play," Tuley said. "That's a play you really focus on the defensive side for. You have to spend a lot of time on it. For all of us, that's the direction we're moving and headed."